If you’ve been getting insufficient sleep or feel more irritable or unable to concentrate amid the pandemic, you are not alone. These and other symptoms may be signs of stress. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused uncertainty and challenges, unlike anything many of us have ever faced. Whether you’re feeling anxious because of the unknowns around the virus or from isolating to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, stress can ultimately take a toll on your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Coping with stress in healthy ways can help ward off the harmful effects of stress on our wellbeing, including depression, weight change, and a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Here are 10 ways of dealing with stress during the pandemic.
- Drink Kratom Tea
To help support overall wellness and promote peace, try brewing some Kratom tea. Kratom is a tropical evergreen plant native to Southeast Asia known for its calming and motivating benefits.
For centuries, people have harvested Kratom leaves to manage stress and promote a sense of calm to re-center. In particular, the red vein strain of Kratom is a go-to variety for those seeking aid in unwinding and maintaining a relaxed state of mind.
Kratom tea is a popular method of accessing Kratom’s benefits and is easy to make and enjoy. You can buy crushed leaf Kratom or Kratom powder from reputable vendors to add to your tea. Some Kratom users prefer crushed leaves over powder because they can be used more than once and may yield better results.
To make your Kratom tea with crushed leaves or powder, mix one teaspoon of Kratom with boiled water and let it steep for five to ten minutes. You can use anywhere from two to four cups of water, depending on how strong you want your tea to be.
Once your tea has brewed, use the strainer to remove the powder or crushed leaves from your tea. If you’re using powder, you can use a coffee filter. If you’re using crushed leaves, you may wish to use a tea maker. If you enjoy sweeter tea, try adding honey, agave syrup, or lemon for a flavor enhancer.
- Try Other Forms of Kratom
Beyond tea, there are many ways to enjoy decreased irritability, greater peace, and enhanced wellness from Kratom. Chewing Kratom leaves is a traditional method of consuming the herbal remedy, while more modern methods include taking Kratom powder and capsules.
Much like Kratom tea, Kratom powder can be mixed into other beverages, such as smoothies, along with your other favorite ingredients. You can toss and wash the powder, where you place the powder on your tongue and wash it down with a drink for quick and easy consumption. Similarly, you can enjoy Kratom in capsule form. Because Kratom can have a bitter taste, some users prefer taking capsules for a convenient and tasteless means of accessing the herb’s benefits.
- Do What You Enjoy
Whether you enjoy reading, listening to music, crafting, or other hobbies, carving out time to do what you enjoy can help reduce stress. Especially with work or school, family obligations, and the extra strains brought on by the pandemic, it’s essential to set aside time to engage in the activities that bring you joy.
- Exercise Regularly
Building regular exercise into your daily routine can make a world of difference in your stress levels and overall wellbeing. By simply taking a 20-minute walk each day, regular body movement can help flush out stress hormones, balance out your nervous system, and increase blood circulation.
For those in areas where gyms are closed, or you now work from home instead of walking around a large office building, it’s important to incorporate exercise to offset a sedentary quarantine. This can help you maintain a healthy weight and keep your cardiovascular system in good shape. Besides being good for your health, blood flow and a healthy weight also help boost your immune system.
- Meditate or Do Yoga
By spending even just a few minutes practicing meditation, you can restore your inner peace and calm. This stress reliever works by resting in a relaxed position and focusing on one thought or clearing your mind of other negative or persistent thoughts. With practice, you can use meditation to center yourself and build resilience to stress.
Similarly, yoga offers many relaxation techniques through meditation, controlled breathing, physical movement, and stretching. Doing yoga regularly may help reduce your stress levels by lowering your heart rate and blood pressure, reducing muscle tension, and improving your sense of wellbeing.
- Try Controlled Breathing
Outside of meditation and yoga, controlled breathing can help promote relaxation and reduce stress. Whenever you feel acutely stressed or tense, need an energy boost, or want to improve your focus on the tasks at hand, controlled breathing is an exercise you can practice anywhere.
- Spend Time Outdoors
Spending time in nature can aid in lowering stress hormone levels and enhance feelings of well-being. By spending just 20 minutes outdoors, you can replace stress with more pleasant feelings while reducing your heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, and more.
- Limit Media and Social Media Intake
While social media is an excellent way for us to connect with others while we social distance, too much of anything can be bad. It’s essential to take breaks from social and news media, especially when you’re reading, listening to, or watching content about the pandemic. Repeatedly hearing about the pandemic or other distressing issues can be upsetting and add to your anxiety, so it’s healthy to take a breather from these forums now and then.
- Take Time to Relax
Besides practicing relaxing exercises such as controlled breathing, meditation, and partaking in the hobbies you enjoy, find time to relax. Whether that means taking a nap or vegging out while watching a movie or show, finding time to unwind can help ease tension and stress. Self-care is vital to help you maintain balance in your emotional and mental health.
- Get Support
Like your physical health, your mental health is an essential aspect of your overall health. If you find you are experiencing increased stress levels that are negatively affecting your mental health or pre-existing mental health conditions, seek the support of loved ones or a trained professional to get the help you need. Many therapists conduct virtual sessions, and you can also find support groups holding virtual meetings in your area.
The Takeaway
If you are feeling stress and anxiety during the pandemic, you’re not alone. Many people are experiencing stress symptoms because of the uncertainty around the virus, economic impacts, and less social connections with others. To help manage your stress during this troublesome time, consider tapping into the benefits of Kratom, getting regular exercise, and indulging in the activities that bring you joy.
